Interconnected puzzle blocks

ABSTRACT

A puzzle device is shown comprised of a plurality of blocks that can be interconnected in a plurality of positions. The blocks have faces thereon with differing indicia. In a certain one of these positions, the differing indicia on adjacent blocks are all linearly aligned and form a preselected interrelationship, such as a mathematically correct equation. The indicia on the blocks and the means for interconnecting the blocks is such that the place of alternate ones of the blocks may be interchanged with each other for interconnection, each of the blocks may be rotated in place about the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection in a plurality of positions and one or more of the blocks may be rotated about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection in one of two orientations.

O United States Patent [191 [111 3,873,096 Shoptaugh Mar. 25, 1975 [54]INTERCONNECTED PUZZLE BLOCKS 1,099,875 3/1955 France 273/ 137 C [75]Inventor: Philip L. Shoptaugh, Oakland, Calif. P E A O O h l 73Assignee: William Carlisle, Alameda, Calif. jggfi'fi, p p i iph migs 3 22 Filed; J l 5, 97 Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala [21] Appl. No.:376,814

' [57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl 273/156, 35/70, 35/73, A Puzzle device isShown comprised of a plurality of 4 25 blocks that can be interconnectedin a plurality of po- 51 Int. Cl. A63f 9/12 sitiofls- The blocks havefaces thereon with differing 53 i ld f Search 273 155 157 7 indicia. Ina certain one of these positions, the differ- 4 2 77 31 A 3 G, 73 35 J,ing indicia on adjacent blocks are all linearly aligned 49 774 and forma preselected interrelationship, such as a mathematically correctequation. The indicia on the [5 Reierences Ci blocks and the means forinterconnecting the blocks is 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS such that theplace of alternate ones oi the blocks may 407 374 7/1889 smith 273/ Uxbe interchanged with each other for interconnection, I 558*! 10/1925273/156 each of the blocks may be rotated in place aboutthe 35654432/1971 Klein "5 R longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection ma plurality of positions and one or more of the blocks FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS may be rotated about an axis normal to thelongitudil,l74,l84 l 1/1958 France 46/26 nal axis of the puzzle forinterconnection in one of two 625,076 6/1949 United Kingdom 273/157 Rorientations.

l4,7l2 0/1899 UnitedKing dom 35/77 1,038.961 9/1958 serially ..1 273/1551 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 101.053 h 1/1899 Germany 35/77 O O I Q 6 a If .PATENTEflmzsms sum 2 9f 2 GOO (DUO

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FIG 7 (DOC) CDC) ,22 MONTH ,NYMPH AWXENON. B-MAZES c- SPOON OAS HUMAN"FIG '8 INTERCONNECTED PUZZLE BLOCKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The invention relates to puzzles; and, moreparticularly, to a puzzle device comprised of a plurality ofinterconnected blocks which is both entertaining and instructional.

2. Description of the Prior Art Puzzles have always been popular forpassing the time. The user, however, of such puzzles quickly losesinterest when the solution thereof is known to him. There thus is agreater demand for puzzles which either have more than one possiblesolution or serve a further purpose during the attempt to solve suchpuzzle. This latter purpose may be educational or instructional and thusnot only entertain the user during his attempt to solve the puzzle, butinstruct him at the same time in an effortless manner.

. Also, a puzzle, to be interesting, should have a large number ofpossible (but incorrect) solutions so as not to make the solving thereofmerely a matter of eliminating a small number of alternatives.

However, in order to carry out the foregoing, such a puzzle should be asuncomplicated as possible so as not to discourage even the youngest ofusers. Further, such a puzzle should be easy and economical tomanufacture so that it could be available to a wide audience at lowcost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide apuzzle device which is easy to operate but difficult to solve.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a puzzle devicewhich is capable of a relatively large number of variations yet only oneor a few correct solutions.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a puzzledevice which instructs at the same time it entertains, such instructionbeing in the form of mathematical equations or the like which mayinclude socalled new math."

These and other objects'are preferably accomplished by providingaplurality of blocks that can be interconnected in a plurality ofpositions. The blocks have faces thereon with differing indicia. Incertain of these positions, the differing indicia on adjacent blocks arelinearly aligned and form a preselected interrelationship, such as amathematically correct equation. The indicia on the blocks and the meansfor interconnecting the blocks is such that the place of alternate onesof the blocks may be interchanged with each other for interconnection,each of the blocks may be rotated in placeabout the longitudinal axis ofthe puzzle for interconnection in a plurality of positions and at leastone of the blocks may be rotated about an axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection in one of twoorientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is an end view in elevation ofanother one of the blocks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the block of FIG. 3 together with afurther block identical to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation of yet another block identical tothat shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a representation in a common plane of all eight faces of fiveinterconnected hexagonal blocks of a puzzle similar to that shown inFIG. 1 but with a differentset of indicia thereon, each of the fivevertical columns of FIG. 6 representing the eight faces of one of thefive blocks;

FIG. 7 is a representation similar to FIG. 6 of a puzzle similar to thatshown in FIG. 1 but consisting of seven hexagonal blocks with a furtherdifferent set of indicia thereon",

FIG. 8 is a representation similar to FIG. 6 but showing a still furtherdifferent set of indicia, and

FIG. 9 is a representation similar to FIG. 7 but showing yet anotherdifferent set of indicia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,FIG. 1 shows the puzzle device 10 according to one embodiment of thisinvention as comprised of a plurality of blocks 11 through 15. Althoughfive such blocks are shown, more or less may be used-in otherembodiments of my invention. These blocks 11 through 15 are shown in aninterlocking relationship as will be explained more fully with referenceto FIGS. 2 through 5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, block 11 is generallyoctagonally shaped about the outer periphery thereof and includes alike-shaped cavity 16 on each side thereof (the other cavity not beingvisible in the Figures). Each of the eight faces of block 11 has indicia17 thereon, at least some of the indicia 17 on block 11 differing fromface to face, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Blocks 13 and 15 in FIG. 1 are generally identical in configuration toblock 11 of FIG. 2. Preferably, these blocks ll, 13 and 15 may be oflike color or surface characteristics for reasons to be discussedshortly. However, as clearly shown in FIG. I, the placement ororientation of the indicia 17 on the faces of blocks 13 and 14 isusually different from the placement or orientation of the indicia 17 onthe faces of block 11, again for reasons to be discussed shortly.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, block 12 of FIG. 1 is shown as beinggenerally octagonally shaped and havinga raised portion 18 on each sidethereof (see FIG. 5). These portions 18 are also octagonally shaped andconfigured to fit snugly into the cavities 16 of blocks l1, l3 and 15(see FIG. 4). The indicia 19 of block 12, however, is preferably of adifferent type from that of blocks 11, 13 and 15. According to theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, indicia 17 preferably relates to symbolsrepresenting numerical values; indicia 19, however, preferably relatesto symbols representing mathematical signs, such as plus, minus,division, equals, times, etc. As shown in FIG. 5, block 14 is similar toblock 12 with indicia l9 thereon being oriented on different faces fromthose on block 12 if desired. Finally, blocks 12 and 14 may be of likecolor or surface characteristics, the latter differing from the coloringor surface characteristics of blocks ll, 13 and 15.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that blocks 11 through 15are-arranged so that the raised portions 18 of blocks 12 and 14interlock with the cavities 16in blocks 11, 13 and 15. In this manner, aplurality of linearly aligned horizontal rows A, B and C are formed(obviously there are eight such horizontal rows, the remaining five notbeing visible in FIG. 1).

The important features of the puzzle blocks of my invention should nowbe clear. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the numerical symbols on thefaces in horizontal row A on blocks 11, 13 and 15, together with themathematical symbols on the faces in horizontal row A on blocks 12 and14, result in a mathematically correct equation, i.e., 1+4=5. The sameis true of horizontal rows B and C, Le, 4= 2+2 and 4+1 4, respectively.

However, it should be clear that the place and rotational position ofblocks 11 through 15 may be changed in interconnecting the puzzle sothat correct mathematical solutions are not presented in every row.Thus, if the place of block 11 were interchanged with the place of block13 in interconnecting the puzzle 10, row C would read 1T4 4, an improperequation. However, rows A and B would still read as proper equations.Further, the place of blocks 12 and 14 may be interchanged so that themathematical symbols change place in the puzzle 10. Thus, if block 14were interchanged with block 12, row B would now read 4 2 2, an improperequation. Similarly, the equations of rows A and C would be improper.

Also, blocks 11 through 15 may be individually rotated in place aboutthe longitudinal axis of the puzzle 10 so that different faces of theblocks are aligned in horizontal rows when the blocks areinterconnected. Thus, block 11 may be rotated in place so that, forexample, the symbol for the numeral 1 would be in row B instead of row A(the symbol then in row A is not visible in FIG. 1) and the symbol forthe numeral 4 presently in row B would be in row C when the puzzle 10 isinterconnected, producing an incorrect equation in row B. Also, block 11may be interchanged with either block 13 or 15 to result in even furthervariations (these variations, of course, not necessarily resulting incorrect equations).

Finally, the blocks 11 through 15 may be rotated in place about an axisnormal-to the longitudinal axis of the puzzle to one of two oppositeorientations for'interconnection. Such rotation will result in theindicia on the faces of the block being turned upside down. For thisreason it is necessary that the indicia on each face of the puzzle besuch that it can be correctly interrelated with the adjacent indicia inany given horizontal row of such indicia when the puzzle isinterconnected regardless of the orientation of the blocks 11-15. Thus,it will be seen that the numerical symbols and the mathematical symbolsof the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. '1 will read exactlythe same regardless of the orientation of the block to which they areapplied. Since only certain numerals such as 0, l and 8 read the sameupside down as right side up, the use of the other numerals wouldprevent the correct interconnection of the blocks 11, 13 and 15 in bothof their two possible orientations and thus reduce the number ofpossible variations in interconnecting the puzzle 10.

Thus, all of the indicia 17, 19 on all of the faces of blocks 11 through15 may be preselected so that only one solution is possible whereby allof the rows A, B, C (tothe eight row) result in linearly aligned correctI 4 equations depending upon the proper placement and orientation ofeach block (for a total of eight correct mathematical equations). Ofcourse, more than one solution may be possible.

Although it is not necessary that the coloring of blocks 11 through 15differ as discussed above, such differing coloring may be used to teacha novice (such as a small child first learning mathematics) where toproperly place the mathematical and numerical symbols (i.e., blocks 12and I4, e.g., being of like coloring, are placed after the first numeralblock and before the last, respectively). 7

Referring to FIG. 6 a planar representation of a fur ther embodiment ofthis invengtion is shown. This embodiment of the invention is physicallythe same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-5 except that letters of thealphabet constitute the indicia provided on the faces of the blocksinstead of numerical symbols and mathematical symbols. Thus, asrepresented in FIG. 6 the letters appearing on the eight faces of thefirst block 21 are represented in the first vertical column and theletters appearing on the eight faces of the second block 22 arerepresented in the second vertical column, etc.

As represented in FIG. 6 the blocks 21-25 have been interconnected sothat the letters in each horizontal row of the faces thereof spell aword in the English language and thus the puzzle has been solved. Itwill be understood that the places of blocks 21, 23 and 25 may beinterchanged in interconnecting the puzzle and that the places of blocks22 and 24 may be similarly interchanged as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 1-5 thus resulting in meaningless or misspelled words incertain or all of the horizontal rows.

Further, as described above in connection with FIGS. l-5 each of theblocks may be rotated in place about the longitudinal axis of the puzzlein order to change the alignment of the faces of the blocks in thehorizontal rows, again resulting in meaningless or misspelled words.Finally, the letters used on blocks 21, 23 and 25 have been selectedfrom those which can be read either right side up or upside down. Thus,blocks 21, 23 and 25 may be rotated in place about an axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the puzzle between two opposite orientations. Itwill be understood that such rotation of block 21 for example will notonly change the alignment of the faces thereof in the horizontal rows,but will also turn all of such letters upside down. The letters N, X, S,O, H and I will read exactly the same whether right side up or up sidedown. The letter M, however,

will read W when upside down.

Referring to FIG. 7 another embodiment of this invention is representedin the planar manner described in connection with FIG. 6. According tothe embodiment represented in FIG. 7 the puzzle consists of sevenoctagonal blocks 31-37, rather than five, and certain of the faces ofthe blocks have no indicia whatever on them. The remaining faces of theblocks all have identical indicia which may be a spot, circle, square orany other symmetric figure.

According to this embodiment of the invention the puzzle is solved wheneach of the horizontal rows of the puzzle contains three contiguousfigures as shown. As described in connection with FIGS. 1-6, the placesof blocks 31, 33, 35 and 37 may be interchanged with each other and theplaces of blocks 32, 34 and 36 may be interchanged with each other ininterconnecting the puzzle. Similarly, all of the blocks 31-37 may berotated about the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnectionwith different faces thereof aligned in horizontal rows. According tothis embodiment all of the blocks 31-37 may be rotated about an axisnormal to the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection ineither of two opposite orientations since the symmetric figures willpresent the same appearance in either orientation.

Referring to FIG. 8 a further embodiment of this invention isrepresented in the planar manner described in connection with FIG. 6.According to this embodiment the set of indicia applied to the faces offive octagonal blocks 41-45 is such that when properly aligned inhorizontal rows eight stylized pictures are formed as shown. It will beseen that the set of indicia is such that a given face of certain of theblocks could form a portion of several of the pictures and that severalfaces of certain of the blocks are identical. As described in connectionwith the other embodiments, at least some of the blocks (block 44, forexample) may be rotated about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis ofthe puzzle to either of two opposite orientations for interconnectionsince the indicia on the faces thereof is symmetrical. Of course theplaces of blocks 41, 43, and 45 as well as the places of blocks 42 and44 may be interchanged in interconnecting the puzzle and all of theblocks 41-45 may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the puzzlefor interconnection.

Referring to FIG. 9, still another embodiment of the invention isrepresented in the planar manner described above. This embodiment issubstantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 except thatthe set of indicia on the faces of the blocks 51-57 consists of markingsthat may be aligned to form a continuous path as shown. Althoughoctagonal blocks have been disclosed, obviously the number of faces maybe changed without departing from the spirit of my invention. Theconfiguration of cavities 16 and raised portions 18 would be changedaccordingly so that each face of each block would be properly alignedwith an adjacent face of a second interlocking block.

In summary, a puzzle device is disclosed having a plurality of freelydisposed playing pieces that can be picked up and interlocked in amanner forming linearly aligned faces. These linearly aligned faces havea set of indicia thereon (e.g. numerical and mathematical indicia)capable of forming a correct interrelationship depending upon the properpositioning of the blocks. One or more like blocks may be either rotatedin place, reversed (i.e., rotated about an axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the puzzle to either of two orientations) and/orinterchanged with a like block. This results in the changing of thelinearly aligned faces, thus adding great variety to the device due tothe large number of possibilities presented. Finally, although otherindicia may be used, indicia is preferred which adds an instructionalaspect to my puzzle device while at the same time retaining theintriguing aspects of these types of devices. All of the foregoing isaccomplished without the need for external aids or the like, such ascards, playing board, etc., thus making my device not only economical tomanufacture but easy to use.

I claim as my invention:

1. A puzzle device comprising a plurality of freely disposed blocks eachhaving a first axisand a plurality of faces disposed about said firstaxis with indicia appearing on more than one of said faces andinterconnection means associated with each of said blocks adapted toenable said blocks to be serially interconnected with said first axesthereon aligned to form the longitudinal axis of the assembled puzzledevice and with faces of adjacent blocks linearly aligned in a rowextending along said longitudinal axis, said interconnection means beingadapted to enable:

a. each of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacent block in aplurality of rotational positions about said longitudinal axis;

b. at least two of said blocks to be interchanged with each other alongsaid longitudinal axis for interconnection in said plurality ofrotational positions; and

c. at least one of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacentblock in either of two opposite orientations about a second axis thereofnormal to said longitudinal axis of said assembled puzzle device, saidindicia appearing on said more than one of said faces of said at leastone of said blocks and being of such form and placement on said faces asto give no indication specifically identifiable with either one of saidtwo opposite orientations of said at least one of said blocks about saidsecond axis normal to said longitudinal axis.

2. The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein said interconnection meanscomprises a protrusion along said first axis of one of said plurality ofblocks adapted to fit into a cavity along said first axis of another ofsaid plurality of blocks, at least one of said blocks having identicalinterconnection means at opposite sides of said faces thereof.

3. The puzzle device of claim 2 comprising a first block havingidentical protrusions along said first axis thereof on opposite sides ofsaid faces thereof, a second block having identical cavities along saidfirst axis thereof on opposite sides of said faces thereof, and a thirdblock having interconnection means identical to one of said first andsecond blocks.

4. The puzzle device of claim 3 including at least five of said blocksof which three have interconnection means identical to one of said firstand second blocks and two have interconnection means identical to theother of said first and second blocks.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said indicia faces of on three of saidblocks relates to numerical symbols and said indicia faces of on theother of said blocks relates to mathematical symbols, theinterconnection of said blocks being in a manner whereby the first,third and fifth blocks include said numerical symbols thereon and thesecond and fourth blocks include said mathematical symbols thereon,resulting in a plurality of linearly aligned rows of mathematicalequations.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said mathematical and numerical symbolsare adapted to give no indication of the orientation of said blocksabout said second axes thereof normal to said longitudinal axis of saiddevice when assembled.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein all of said blocks are octagonallyshaped in outer configuration, resulting in eight faces on each of saidblocks.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said interconnection means includesoctagonally shaped cavities on both sides of some of said blocks andoctagonally shaped protrusions on both sides of the other of saidblocks, said protrusions fitting into said cavities when said blocks areinterconnected.

7 9. The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein said indicia on faces of saidblocks comprise letters of the alphabet, said letters appearing on facesof said at least one of said blocks being selected from those letterswhich may be written to read correctly as a letter of the alphabetwhether right side up or upside down.

10. The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein the indicia when assembled.

1. A puzzle device comprising a plurality of freely disposed blocks eachhaving a first axis and a plurality of faces disposed about said firstaxis with indicia appearing on more than one of said faces andinterconnection means associated with each of said blocks adapted toenable said blocks to be serially interconnected with said first axesthereon aligned to form the longitudinal axis of the assembled puzzledevice and with faces of adjacent blocks linearly aligned in a rowextending along said longitudinal axis, said interconnection means beingadapted to enable: a. each of said blocks to be interconnected with anadjacent block in a plurality of rotational positions about saidlongitudinal axis; b. at least two of said blocks to be interchangedwith each other along said longitudinal axis for interconnection in saidplurality of rotational positions; and c. at least one of said blocks tobe interconnected with an adjacent block in either of two oppositeorientations about a second axis thereof normal to said longitudinalaxis of said assembled puzzle device, said indicia appearing on saidmore than one of said faces of said at least one of said blocks andbeing of such form and placement on said faces as to give no indicationspecifically identifiable with either one of said two oppositeorientations of said at least one of said blocks about said second axisnormal to said longitudinal axis.
 2. The puzzle device of claim 1wherein said interconnection means comprises a protrusion along saidfirst axis of one of said plurality of blocks adapted to fit into acavity alOng said first axis of another of said plurality of blocks, atleast one of said blocks having identical interconnection means atopposite sides of said faces thereof.
 3. The puzzle device of claim 2comprising a first block having identical protrusions along said firstaxis thereof on opposite sides of said faces thereof, a second blockhaving identical cavities along said first axis thereof on oppositesides of said faces thereof, and a third block having interconnectionmeans identical to one of said first and second blocks.
 4. The puzzledevice of claim 3 including at least five of said blocks of which threehave interconnection means identical to one of said first and secondblocks and two have interconnection means identical to the other of saidfirst and second blocks.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said indiciafaces of on three of said blocks relates to numerical symbols and saidindicia faces of on the other of said blocks relates to mathematicalsymbols, the interconnection of said blocks being in a manner wherebythe first, third and fifth blocks include said numerical symbols thereonand the second and fourth blocks include said mathematical symbolsthereon, resulting in a plurality of linearly aligned rows ofmathematical equations.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein saidmathematical and numerical symbols are adapted to give no indication ofthe orientation of said blocks about said second axes thereof normal tosaid longitudinal axis of said device when assembled.
 7. The device ofclaim 5 wherein all of said blocks are octagonally shaped in outerconfiguration, resulting in eight faces on each of said blocks.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein said interconnection means includesoctagonally shaped cavities on both sides of some of said blocks andoctagonally shaped protrusions on both sides of the other of saidblocks, said protrusions fitting into said cavities when said blocks areinterconnected.
 9. The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein said indicia onfaces of said blocks comprise letters of the alphabet, said lettersappearing on faces of said at least one of said blocks being selectedfrom those letters which may be written to read correctly as a letter ofthe alphabet whether right side up or upside down.
 10. The puzzle deviceof claim 1 wherein the indicia appearing on certain faces of said blockswill present an identical appearance regardless of the orientation ofthe block upon which it appears about a second axis thereof normal tosaid longitudinal axis of said device when assembled.